FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton baseball battled back from a four run deficit to defeat Texas, 6-5, in the series-opener Friday night at Goodwin Field. With the win the Titans improve to 3-4 on the year.
Texas (3-6) scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead. The Longhorns scored two runs on back-to-back singles before a fielding error by the Titans led to two more runs.
The Titans immediately responded with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5. Cole Urman got the Titans going with a one-out base hit on a bunt back to the pitcher. Following a Moises Guzman walk and a fielder's choice for Caden Connor, the Titans had runners on the corners with two outs.
A passed ball by the Longhorns allowed Urman to get home and give Fullerton its first run of the inning. One batter later, Nate Nankil hit a double to left field to score Connor from second and make it a 5-3 game.
B4 | Nate responds! #TusksUp | @nankils619 pic.twitter.com/E4cAMfRWcC
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 4, 2023
After a pitching change for Texas, Zach Lew was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs before Maddox Latta crushed a double off the wall in left field to clear the bases and tie the game at 5-5. Latta now has six doubles in seven games this season.
.@LattaMaddox drives in two to tie the game at 5-5!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/2GOdchGEQa
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 4, 2023
Fullerton once again took advantage of Texas mistakes in the eighth inning as Urman scored to give the Titans the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a wild pitch.
Fynn Chester shut the door on the Longhorns in the ninth with three quick outs, two of them being strikeouts, to give the Titans the win. Chester pitched two no-hit innings in relief while striking out four batters to earn the win and improve to 2-0 on the year.
Ball game! Titans take down Texas 6-5. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/MPHxWi5nMW
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 4, 2023
Tyler Stultz got the start for the Titans and went four innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking two and striking out two. Jason Blood pitched three shutout innings in relief while giving up just two hits and striking out three batters.
Texas started Lucas Gordon on the mound who came into the game with 0.84 ERA. The Titans chased Gordon out of the game after 3.2 innings of work after he gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits while walking four and striking out three batters. David Shaw (0-1) got the loss for the Longhorns after giving up one earned run on two hits in two innings of relief.
The two teams meet again Saturday evening for game two of the series at Goodwin Field. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. PT.
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